Back

Henry Cambangay

Henry Cambangay, Smallholder Farmer in Bohol, The Philippines

Henry Cambangay works hard to increase the productivity of his rice farm. But he’s also concerned about his neighbors. The 55-year-old farmer wants his fellow farmers to advance with him because rice is a means of income for these South East Asian rice farmers. Their livelihood depends on it. Henry’s farm is located in San Miguel, Bohol which is known as the rice bowl of Central Visayas in the Philippines. Some quick facts about Henry:

Grows rice on a 2-hectare farm in Bohol, The Philippines
Has been farming rice for more than 13 years
Is the proud father of 4 children and grandfather to 7 grandchildren

Click on the story updates below to follow Henry’s journey with Better Life Farming

Updates of Henry Cambangay’s story:

I can now provide enough food for my family with the rice I grow and the money I earn from it:

Mother nature gives and takes

No matter how much sweat and time I invest in my rice fields, there are simply things I have no influence on and that is mother nature. Extreme weather is something that can destroy an entire seasons work. This means I have to start all over again. But before I joined Better Life Farming, I lacked the money to buy new seeds and quickly recover. Now, I have a safety net. I have insurance. This helps me to stay in the business even after a bad event and secure my income to lead a better life together with my family.

Rice farming is a family business

My typical day starts before sunrise. I have a cup of coffee and some snacks before I head of to my rice fields on my motorcycle. I tidy up the paddy fields, prepare the seedbeds or cover the holes in the embankment so that I can bank the water. Later, my wife joins me on the field to support me. During planting and harvesting for example, my wife helps me to supervise the field workers we hire to help. She also takes care of the catering for the field works. It wouldn’t work without her. Rice farming is our business and we make a great team together.

Small land. Big challenges.

Three challenges that have a direct impact in my life as a rice smallholder are pests and crop diseases, climate change and the lack of credible off-takers. Pests in the field affect the quality of my rice and are responsible for a lower yield at the end of a season. Extreme weather like typhoons is even worse because it can flood and damage my entire field, leaving me nothing to harvest at all. At the end of the day, selling my harvest for a reasonable price is also not easy because off-takers try to push down the price.

Hi, I’m Henry!

I have been growing rice on my farm here in Bohol for more than 13 years. I joined Better Life Farming to improve my rice crop and my income – My primary goals are to have my house fixed and to pay my old debts ... to have my own vehicle to be able to use it in my farming.

Back